I am in the process of waiting for a hearing for my disability case. My question is, gainful wages is $810 a month, I believe. Is that figure before, or after, taxes? Thanks in advance!

Alison

The $810 is without taxes. You must request to have taxes taken out. You must fill out a specific form and either send it to social security or take it down to the office. I didn't realize for 6 months that I had to pay tax on the money. So..hope this helps.

You can find your answer here
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=190555&highlight=gainful+employment

PurpleBill indicated there that 580 is the flag for the start of the Trial Work period however and it is gross before taxes.
You are allowed 9 months of a TWP in a 5 year span I think it is.
Also a link to SS site explaining it

The $810 is without taxes. You must request to have taxes taken out. You must fill out a specific form and either send it to social security or take it down to the office. I didn't realize for 6 months that I had to pay tax on the money. So..hope this helps.

Dear cpkosloski,
Are we talking about the same subject? I am reading that the question is what is considered gainful employment to not qualify for social security disability? The amount of $810 is gross income as far as I know and can find out. When I filed and got on Social Security Disability I could not work at all and did not have to go to hearing. I could be wrong and am only going by what information I am finding on different sites. Social Security Disability payments to you are not taxable as a sole income. Am I on the wrong path here about the gainful earnings? Please respond back. Thanks

Sincerely,

Sickman :)

As far as I know, and Purple can correct me though, Social Security is the same in every single state because it is a government program.

The reason you didn't go for a hearing for your SSD is becuase you won your case before it ever went to court. I was nearing a hearing when I first applied for SSD after my second denial but then the case was reviewed just before they sent it to trial so I never went either, however many people have gone to trial. I want to think trial is automatic on the 2nd or 3rd denial.

As far as I know you are not supposed to be working when you apply. But there is a way to work and get SSD but it is based on the amount of income you are earning. After getting SSD (probably SSI too) you are eligable for what is known as a Trial Work period in which you try to work for 9 months and still recieve benefits during that time. The time will accumulate over 5 years if you work intermittently.

Also there is an amount you can earn that will not affect your benifits at all and I think Bill said it was like 580 or so, after that it kicks in that it is the TWP, theres another "program" if you will that relates to the 810, it's utterly confusing is all I know

Sickman, Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I will give you my example. I was approved for dissablity and no I did not have to go to a hearing. Some people do but I was lucky enough that my doctors took care of everything and documented well.

Ok...I get $722.00 from social security dissability. My daughter gets $222.00. Her income is not taxable she is a minor. My income however is different. Out of my $722.00 I get a little over $100.00 taken out each month for taxes. I was not aware in the begining that I needed to pay taxes. Social Security does not tell you that. But, it is plain as day on their web site. Depending on how much money you are getting and that's a big one it is taxable. You should call the IRS which is what I did. It was a pain in the rear but they were really helpfull.

I hope this helps.

CP I'm curious, shouldn't your daughter get half of what you get? My sons got half of what I did, well 25% each which totalled half and thought that was just standard.

In addition to calling the IRS also check with City and State tax offices because that varies a lot on what is taxable and what isn't